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This is all my subjective opinion, but;
I've said it before (and copped abuse from Hawk fans for it) but I think 2024 is going to be the massive bottoming-out year for Hawthorn, and starting next year is when you'll start to rebuild properly out of it.
- Hawthorn over-achieved last year
- North are further ahead of Hawthorn in terms of their rebuild, and should now be seeing some sustained improvement
- Hawthorn's list is in a bad way, and may have the worst defense in the AFL (North aren't much better in this regard, for what it's worth)
- Even before yesterday's injuries, it was my opinion that Hawthorn were the team in the AFL that was least prepared to cover any injuries to key players
- I think Hawthorn's 'top' players are very, very over-rated by Hawk fans
You'll likely disagree. That's fine.
You could be right but the thing is they virtually were a force from the 2nd half of the season onwards.I have seen a lot of people rating GWS very highly.
I’m prepared to go on record saying they will struggle to make the 8. I think people are getting sucked in by an end of season purple patch, they are a mediocre team that will finish somewhere between 7th-12th.
We're due an 8th place finish and a finals belting this yearUnlike Blues though there's not a lot of expectation around the Bombers.
Zzzzffffffppppzzzffffpppzppppffffffffffffffpfpfpfpfpfpffffzzz p
Thats the prolonged deflating sound that Carlton hype balloon is gonna make if you guys don't get to a prelim!
Bombers miss finals again ... meh.. usual
I'm going to pretend I don't get this reference.A fair bit rests on how Kreuzer responds to his calf rehab. Calves are bastards and can dog senior players for a whole season
Nobody seems to rate you guys anymore, rightly or wrongly. Not sure you qualify.Port or us, sadly.
I really can't fathom how North are ahead in the rebuild given it appears you are starting from ground zero again with further list cuts to experienced players. Sure, you have added more top 5 draft picks thanks to some much needed assistance and in time it could prove to be more fruitful but at this stage I can't even compare North and Hawthorn. The results over the last three years speak for themselves.
Our age and experience is trending up (still second youngest we were the youngest last season) whereas North are going into 2024 as the youngest and least experienced team.
I'm not one to over-react to a practice match, but I will say this;
Based on what I saw vs Collingwood today, it's fair and reasonable to suggest that North Melbourne in 2024 might be the single greatest football team in the history of Australian Rules.
But in all seriousness, I reckon NMFC will win at least 6 or 7 games. I have Hawthorn winning somewhere in the vicinity of 4-8. So it will be close but I believe North will be above Hawthorn.
Had way more to do with fitness than any deliberate gameplan tweaks imo. The standards had slipped to a crazy degree, started under Scott and only got worse under Shaw and Noble, it took more experienced operators like Clarkson and Viney to identify just how bad it had gotten. They're able to actually play the gameplan now and it will make a very big difference.North looked very impressive when attacking today. Much different from the safe and boring footy played last year. Hopefully it's a sign of things to come and a sign that Clarko has changed his ways. His coaching style had become quite dour and negative so it was great to see a sign of flair today.
Still looked a bit shaky defensively IMO. It's a young team so it's going to take time to figure out positioning and team defence. Think the pressure applied on the ball carrier also needs improving which will come with match experience/fitness as well. A lot of those young kids are going to need a couple more preseasons to manage that for a 20+ games a season.
I'm a little bit more bullish on North after todays performance but still think you will comfortably be bottom two. I can see North winning 4 - 6 games this season. Got a pretty good draw for it as well.
It's only a praccy match but it looks like you guys might have finally started to bounce off the bottom now which is good for footy.
It's a great result for North today and hopefully gets North some positive media for a change.
I’ll be more impressed if you do it against a team that cares … pies are still half drunk from last seasonHad way more to do with fitness than any deliberate gameplan tweaks imo. The standards had slipped to a crazy degree, started under Scott and only got worse under Shaw and Noble, it took more experienced operators like Clarkson and Viney to identify just how bad it had gotten. They're able to actually play the gameplan now and it will make a very big difference.
I have seen a lot of people rating GWS very highly.
I’m prepared to go on record saying they will struggle to make the 8. I think people are getting sucked in by an end of season purple patch, they are a mediocre team that will finish somewhere between 7th-12th.
Seems logical.. I'm inUs. We won the flag but lost to the bottom team yesterday.
North will be Premiers.
Okay, I’ll bite, why will North finish above Hawthorn this year?
I really can't fathom how North are ahead in the rebuild.
Still can't fathom it?
imbeciles with a blind hatred of us mate. It's BigFooty 101
I don't go for them so no bias, if everyone is seeing the pre season issues as a speedhump, wouldn't this gesture that the expectations are bing tempered then?Melbourne stands out at the moment. Too much going wrong at the moment.
Tend to agree.I have seen a lot of people rating GWS very highly.
I’m prepared to go on record saying they will struggle to make the 8. I think people are getting sucked in by an end of season purple patch, they are a mediocre team that will finish somewhere between 7th-12th.